World Plumbing Day: Upgrade to an Energy Efficient Toilet

According to
conserveh2o.org, more than 45 percent of water use in the average American home occurs
in the bathroom, with nearly 27 percent being used by toilets. Energy
efficient, low flow toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush whereas
a regular toilet can use anywhere from 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. Furthermore,
they not only save water, they save money too. This article will outline
types of toilets, reasons to upgrade, and important things to know when
you are thinking about buying an energy-efficient toilet.

Types of Toilets

Gravity-Fed Tank The gravity-fed tank is the most common type of toilet. An inexpensive
option, this toilet relies on the weight and volume of the water to flush
away waste.

Water Conservation Rating: 1/5

Two-Button Tank

This option is a great way to conserve water. There are two flushing options.
The first is a half-flush meant for liquid and the other a full flush,
to be used for solids.

Water Conservation Rating: 4/5

Power-Assisted/Pressure-Assisted Tank This power/pressure system uses compressed air to flush the water. When
not in use, there is no water in the bowl. Instead, the water is in a
pressure tank inside the toilet. When you flush this toilet, the water
in the pressure tank is pushed into the toilet bowl to clean it.

Water Conservation Rating: 5/5

Reasons to Upgrade

Money

Who doesn't like to save money? The Environment Protection Agency,
(EPA) estimated that a WaterSense certified low flow toilet can save a
family of four $90 per year and $2,000 over the life of the toilet. While
you won't see an immediate return on your investment, you will makeup
the costs after some time.

Environment

Water conservation is a major topic in today's environmental landscape.
Using less water is a great, easy way to pitch in, and can help your city's
water department keep up with demand.

Important Things to Know

WaterSense

Similar to the "Energy Star" classification for appliances, this
label indicates that a toilet uses no more than 1.28 gallons of water
per flush. This label makes it easy to find high quality, energy-efficient toilets.

Dual-Flush Conversion Kit

If you are not interested in spending the money to replace your toilet,
you can install a dual flush toilet kit to save money on your water bill.
The best selling kit is the
Tap-N-Flush, the only dual flush converter guaranteed to fit any toilet.